The little grebe

A little grebe is seen cruising on a pond in Honghu Park in Luohu District on April 17, 2021. 

The little grebe

One of the coolest resident species we can enjoy year-round in Shenzhen is the fascinating little grebe (Tachybaptus ruficollis). About 28centimeters in length, this fluffy water bird is a delight to observe, especially when diving from their position on the surface of the water,and then disappearing for a few seconds just to reemerge with a delicious meal in their beaks.

小鸊鷉是深圳最有趣的留鸟之一，全年可见。它们是一种体长28厘米、长得像毛团子一样的潜鸟，经常展现出各种奇妙的行为。比如说，它们在水上游着游着会猛然下潜，几秒种后又叼着好吃的闪亮登场。

A little grebe is seen cruising with a shrimp in beak in Honghu Park in Luohu District on April 17, 2021.

Little grebes have a black or dark brown cap that covers the forehead, the eye and the chin, which contrasts with a striking redbrown coloration on the cheeks and the rest of the face. The base of the beak has a yellowish patch and the beak is black with a yellow tip. The plumage covering the body mixes different tones of brown, making them easy to spoton the water. Males and females look very similar, but young birds can be paler in color.

小鸊鷉眼先、颏、上喉等部位呈黑色或深褐色，像戴了顶帽子，头部其他部位如脸颊则呈暗红色；喙黑色，基部及尖端沾黄色；躯干覆羽基本为褐色，在野外辨识非常容易。该物种雌雄相似，亚成鸟体色较浅。

Two little grebes are seen cruising on a pond in Honghu Park in Luohu District on Oct. 24, 2021. 

This beautiful species is easy to find all over Shenzhen in parks where there is a lake orpond, where the birds float on the water and frequently diveto catch small fish, shrimp, insects, larvae or even a frog. Little grebes are seldom seen flying and when they do, it looks like they’re walking over the surface of the water.

在深圳，只要是有水域的公园，你就可以找到小鸊鷉。它们大部分时间在水面活动，常潜水取食小鱼、小虾、昆虫（包括幼虫）、甚至青蛙。小鸊鷉的飞行能力很弱，起飞时只能堪堪离开水面，看起来就像在施展轻功“水上漂”一样。

Their breeding season is variable, depending on the availability of resources and the water level of the places they inhabit. They can lay up to five eggs and the incubation period will last for at least three weeks. Little grebe babies have beautiful stripes on their face and will hop onto their parent’s back to be carried for a while, which is a beautiful scene to witness.

小鸊鷉繁殖与否，取决于栖息地的水位和食物的丰富程度，因此并没有固定的繁殖季。雌鸟每窝最多可产5只卵，孵化期为三周。刚破壳的雏鸟脸上具白色纵纹，模样和亲鸟很不一样。出生后一段时间内亲鸟会将雏鸟驮在背上一起行动，看起来其乐融融。

A little grebe is seen gobbling down fish in Honghu Park in Luohu District on Dec. 29, 2021.

Although it’s not an endangered species, it is importantto wakenpublic awareness about the conservation of this fantastic animal, because it plays an important role in the dynamics of the ecosystem and is apart of our amazingbiodiversity.

小鸊鷉的生存虽然没有受到威胁，但是它们是本地生态系统的一份子，在维系生态平衡中也扮演着重要的角色，所以我们也要身体力行地保护它们。